title: [Optimized quality of care for affective disorders by health insurance-based case-management: a controlled cost-study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Improvement of depression treatment by health insurance based case-management. Criteria of improvement were a higher treatment rate of patients suffering from affective disorders or depression by psychiatrists or psychotherapists than by general practitioners or family doctors and sickness fund payments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Training of health insurance account managers (characteristics of depression, counselling and, case management techniques). Evaluation of outcomes during 12-months against a control group of account managers without training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intervention group: 87.8 % patients with in average 13.5 contacts to psychiatrists or psychotherapists; control group: 82.6 % patients with 11.8 contacts. The difference was statistically significant. Health insurance payments did not differ.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A higher treatment rate by psychiatrists and psychotherapists can be achieved by health insurance-based case-management without a cost-increase.
authors.affiliation: Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit, Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim/Universität Heidelberg.
authors.forename: Hans Joachim
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Salize
authors.affiliation: Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit, Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim/Universität Heidelberg.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jacke
authors.affiliation: Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit, Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim/Universität Heidelberg.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gallas
authors.affiliation: Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit, Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim/Universität Heidelberg.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stamm
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D019090:Case Management / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D058006:General Practice / Q000191:economics; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000191:economics; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000191:economics*; D012008:Recurrence; D055815:Young Adult